Variable load brake



Sept. 20, 1938.

VARIABLE LOAD BRAKE Filed Deb. 1, 1936 J. W. RUSH INVENTOR JOHN W. RUSH ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1938 VARIABLE LOAD BRAKE John W. Rush, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assigner to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 1, 1936, Serial No. 113,629

1 Claim.

'I'his invention relates to vehicle brake apparatus and more particularly to a brake equipment incorporating means for varying the braking power inaccordance with the load on the 5 vehicle. It is an object of this invention to provide a Vehicle brake apparatus having a manually operated self-lapping valve device for controlling the pressure of the fluid supplied to the brake cylinder on the vehicle, and having means re- 101 sponsive to the load on the vehicle for modifying the operation of the self-lapping valve device and thereby varying the degree of braking power on the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide l5 l an improved variable load brake equipment.

`Other objects of the invention and features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the single gure of which is a diagrammatic View, largely in section, of a vehicle brake equipment embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the brake equipment provided by this invention comprises a self-lapping valve device indicated generally by the reference numeral I, a reservoir 2, a brake cylinder 4, a door engine 5, and load responsive means indicated general by the reference numeral I.

The self-lapping Valve mechanism shown in the drawing is of the type shown and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,042,112, issued May 26, 1936,

to Ewing K. Lynn and Rankin J. Bush, and comprises a main casing section I6, a pipe bracket section I2, and a valve section I4, which when secured together form a pressure chamber I5,

which is constantly connected by way of a passage'and pipe I6 with the brake cylinder il.A

The valve section I4 has a chamber I8 formed therein which is constantly connected by Way of a passage and pipe 26 with the reservoir 2. The

40 `chamber I8 has a supply valve 22 mounted therein and this valve is yieldingly urged to the seated position by means of a spring 24 to cut off communication between the chamber I8 and the pressure chamber I5.

45, The valve section I4 has a bore therein in which is mounted a movable abutment in the form of a piston 26 which is subject to the opposing pressures of the uid in the pressure chamber I5 and of a spring 28, which extends between the piston 26 and a movable spring seat 30 which is slidable in a `bore in the valve section I4. The spring seat 30 has a bore therein into which extends a reduced extension 32 formed integral with the piston 26.

j` The chamber 34 at the spring side of the pis- (Cl. 30S- 22) ton 26 is constantly connected with the atmosphere by way of a passage 36.

The piston 26 has a Valve chamber 38 formed therein which is constantly connected with the pressure'chamber I5 by way of passages 46, one 5 of which is shownin theV drawing. A release valve 42 is mounted in the chamber 38 and is adapted to engage a seat formed on the piston 26 to cut off communication between thechamber 38 and the chamber The release valve 42 has a ilange formed thereon, while a spring 46 extends between thisflange and the piston 26 and yieldingly urges the release valve away from its seat.

The valve section I4 has, in addition, a bore 15 formed therein in which is mounted a iioating pivot'carrier 56 on which is pivotally secured intermediate its ends by means of a pin 52, a lever E4, one end of which has pivotally secured thereto on a pin 55 a member 56 which extends into 20 a recess in the face of the supply valve 22.

`The1other end of the lever 54 has mounted thereon a roller 58, which is adapted to engage the rounded end of the release Valve 42.

The springs 24, 2B and 46 are of different 25 values, and are proportioned so that the spring 24 exerts substantially greater force than the spring 46, but less force than the spring 28.

The main casing section I0 has a bore extending through the wall thereof, while a shaft 6U 30 is journaled in this bore and has secured to the exposed end thereof a manual operating handle 62. The shaft 66 has packing indicated at 64 mounted thereon to prevent the escape of fluid under pressure from the pressure chamber I5 to the atmosphere through the bore in which the shaft 66 is mounted, while the shaft 60 has, in addition, a cam 66 secured thereon and adapted to engage the end of the floating pivot carrier 50.

The door engine 5 may be of any suitable well 40 known construction, and is operated on the supply of uid under pressure by Way of the pipe 68 to open the vehicle door, and on the release of fluid under pressure from the pipe 68 toy effect closing of the vehicle door 34 through passages 44. 10'A The load responsive means 'I comprises a strut 4) cylinder i8 supported on the pipe bracket section I2 from the vehicle body and having a bore therein in which is mounted a piston l2. The piston 'l2 is yieldingly urged to the upper end of the 50 cylinder 'i6 into engagement with a cover 'I3 by means of a spring 74, while the piston has a stem "I5 which extends through, and is guided by, a bore in the end wall of the cylinder 10. A lever 'I6 is pivotally mounted intermediate its 55 ends on the end of the stem 15 by means of a pin 11, and one end of this lever is connected by means of a link 18 with one arm of a bell crank 80, which is pivotally supported on the vehicle body by means of a pin 82.

The other arm oi the bell .crank 80 is connected by means of a link 84 with one arm of a bell crank 86, which is pivotally supported on the vehicle body by means of a pin 88. The other arm of the bell crank 86 is adapted to engage a projection S9 carried by an unsprung portion 90 of one of the vehicle trucks.

The other arm of the lever 16 is connected by means of a link 92 with an arm 94 of a lever indicated generally by the reference numeral 06, which is pivotally supported on the cover 13 by means of a pin 68.

The lever 96 has, in addition, an arm |00 on which is mounted a roller |02 which is adapted to engage the end of a stem |04 formed integral with the spring seat 30 and extending through a bore in the wall of the valve section I4.

The lever 06 also has an arm |06 which is connected by means of a link |08 to a ratchet bar I0, which is slidably mounted in the body of the load responsive mechanism 1.

The teeth on the ratchet bar H are engaged by a pawl I |2 which is mounted in a bore in the body of the load responsive mechanism and has secured thereto a piston II4 of relatively small diameter, and a piston H6 of relatively large diameter. A spring ||8 operates through the pistons ||4fand ||6 to press the pawl ||2 against the ratchet bar ||0.

The load responsive means includes, in addition, valve means responsive to the pressure of the fluid supplied by way of the pipe 68 to the door engine to control the supply of fluid under pressure to the chamber |20 intermediate the pistons ||4 and IIB, and to the chamber |22 at the face of the piston 12.

As illustrated, this valve means comprises a body having a chamber |24 therein which is constantly connected byY way of a passage and pipe |26With-the pipe 68 leading to the door engine 5. The passage |26 has a choke indicated at |36 interposed therein to restrict the rate of flow of fluid from the pipe 68 through the passage |26.

The chamber |24 is surrounded by an annular seat rib |32 which is engaged by a sealing gasket carried by the face of a valve piston |34 mounted in a bore in the body of the load responsive mechanism. A spring |36 extends between the valve piston |34 and a cover plate |38 and yieldingly urges the valve piston |34 to the right, as viewed in the drawing, so that the sealing gasket carried thereby engages the seat rib |32. In this position of the valve piston |34, the chamber |40 outwardly of the seat rib |32 is connected by way of a passage |42 with the chamber |44 at the spring side of the valve piston |34. A passage E46 communicates with the passage |42 and with the chamber |20 intermediate the pistons I|4 and IIG.

The chamber |44 at the spring side of the piston |34 is constantly connected by way of a passage |48 with the atmosphere, while the valve piston |34. has an annular seat rib |50 formed thereon which is adapted to engage a gasket |52 carried by the cover plate |38 to cut off communication between the passage |42 and the chamber |44 on movement of the valve piston |34 against the spring |36.

The valve piston |34 has secured thereto a stem carrying a spherical valve element |54 which is mounted in a chamber |56, which is constantly connected by way of a passage |58 with the chamber |22 at the face of the piston 12. The valve element |54 is adapted to engage a seat surrounding a passage communicating with the chamber |24 and the chamber |56 to cut off communication between these chambers.

The equipment is shown in the drawing with the brakes released, the car doors closed and with the load on the car approximately at the minimum. At this time fluid under pressure ilows from the reservoir 2 by way of the pipe and passage 20 to the chamber I8, but as the supply valve 22 is seated fluid under pressure cannot flow to the pressure chamber I5, while the pressure chamber |5 and the brake cylinder 2 are connected to the atmosphere as the release valve 42 is held away from its seat by the spring 46.

At this time the pipe 68 is connected to the atmosphere so that fluid is released from the chamber |24, thereby permitting the spring |36 to hold the valve piston |34 in engagement with the seat rib |32 and hold the seat rib |50 on the valve piston away from the sealing gasketv |52 to permit communication between the passage |42and the chamber |44 at the spring side of the valve piston with the result that the chamberV |26 intermediate the pistons |I4 and |46 associated with the latch ||2 is connected to the atmosphere and the spring ||8 maintains the pawl ||2 in engagement with the ratchet bar |I0.

In this position of the valve piston |34, the valve element |54 is held away from its seat so that the chamber |22 at the face of the piston i2 is connected to the chamber |24 and to the atmosphere by way of the pipe 68. As the chamoer |22 is connected to the atmosphere, the piston 12 is held in engagement with the cover 13 by the spring 14.

If, at this time, the operator desires to effect an application of the brakes he may do so by turning the handle 62 from the release position to a point in the application zone. On this movement of the handle 62, the shaft 60 and the cam 66 are turned and the face of the cam presses upon the end of the oating pivot carrier 50, moving it to the left as viewed in the drawing. On this movement of the floating pivot carrier 50 the lever 54 is moved. The upper end of this lever, however, is prevented from moving as the member 56 presses against the supply valve 22, which is held in the seated position by the spring 24, which is of moderate strength. The lever 54, therefore, will pivot about the pin 55 and the roller 58-will press against the end of the release valve 42 and move it against the relatively weak spring 46 until the release valve 42 engages the seat on the piston 26, which is prevented from moving by the relatively heavy spring 28.

On movement of the release valve 42 to the seated position, and on further movement of the floating pivot carrier 50, the lower end of the lever 54 is prevented from moving and the lever pivots on the roller 5B with the result that the upper end of the lever presses through the member 56 and moves the supply valve 22 away from its seat against the spring 24 to thereby permit fluid under pressure supplied from the reservoir 2 by way of the passage 20 to flow to the pressure chamber I5, and therefrom by Way of the passage and pipe I6 to the brake cylinder 4.

l tively heavy spring 28.

On an increase in the pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber l5, force is exerted by this fluid on the piston 26 tending to move it to the left, as viewed in the drawing, against the rela- On this movement of the piston 26, the spring 24 moves the supply valve 22V toward its seat and operates through the supply valve and the member 56 to cause the lever 54to pivot on the pin 52 and maintain the release valve 42 in the seated position against the spring 46.

When the pressure ofthe uid in the pressure chamber I5 has increasedy to a predetermined value, dependent upon the amount of movement of the handle 62 and of the adjustment of the spring 28, the force exerted by this fluid on the piston 26 will be sulii'cient to move the piston far enough against the spring 28 to permit the supply valve 22r to be moved to the seated position by the spring 24 to thereby cut oif the supply of fluid under pressure from the reservoir 2 to the pressure chamber |5 and to the brake cylinder 4.

In order to release the brakes after an application, the operator turns the handle 62 to the release position, thereby moving the cam 66 so that the face thereof is moved away from the end of the floating pivot carrier 56.` As the supply valve 22 is in the seated position at this time, the spring ;24 is ineffective to exert force upon the lever 54, and the spring 46, therefore,`moves the release valve 42 away from its seat, thereby moving the lower end of the lever 54 to the right and moving the end of the floating pivot carrier 50 towards the face of the cam |56.`

On` movement of the release valve 42 away from its seat, fluid under pressure may escape from the brake cylinder 4 and the pressure chamber |5 by way of the passages 40, the chamber 38 in. the piston 26, through the passages 44 to thechamber 34 at the spring side of the piston 26 and thence to the atmosphere by way of the passage 38.

On a reduction in the pressure of the iiuid in thechamber I5, there is a corresponding reduction in the force exerted by this fluid on the piston 26 in opposition tothe spring 28, and the spring 28, therefore, will expand and'will move the piston 26 to the right, as viewed in the drawing, thereby moving the lower end of the lever 54 to the right,` while the floating pivot carrier 50 is moved towards the face of the cam 56. When the handle 62 is in the release position, however, the spring 28 can expand to its full length without moving the piston 26 far enough tol press the end of the floating pivot carrier 50 against the face of the cam 66 and cause the release valve 42 to be seated, with the result that all of the uid under pressure in the pressure chamber I5 and in the brake cylinder 4 may escape to the atmosphere.

HWhen the car doo-rs are to be opened, fluid under pressure is supplied by valve means, not

` shown, to the pipe 68 leading to the door engine 51to condition this engine to open the car doors. Fluid under pressure 'supplied to the pipe 68 flows therefrom by way of the pipe and passage |26 and through the choke |30 at a restricted rate to the chamber |24, from which it flows past the unseated valve |54 to the chamber |56 and thence by way of the passage |58 to the chamber |22 at the face of the piston 12.

On an increase in the pressure of the fluid in the chamber |22, the piston 12 islmoved down- Wardly against the opposing force of the spring 14. This movement of the piston 1,2 is transmitted through the stem 15 and causes the lever 16 to pivot about the lower end of the link 92, with the result that the lever 16 operates through the link 18 to move the bell crank 88 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 82. This movement of the bell crank 86 is transmitted through the link 84 to the bell crank 86 to move it in a clockwise direction about ,the pin 88 until the end of the bell crank engages the projection 89 associated with the unsprung` portion 9U of the vehicle truck.

When the arm of the bell crank 86 engages the projection 89,` further movement of the bell crank is prevented, and similarly further movement `of the link 84, the bell crank 80 and the link 18 is prevented so that the force exerted by the fluid under pressure in the chamber |22 on the piston 12 tends to cause the lever 16 to pivot about the upper end of the link 18 and move the link 92 downwardly.

The force exerted on the link 92 tending to move it downwardly is transmitted to the arm 94 of the lever 96 tending to move the lever 96 in a clockwise direction about the pin 98 on which it is supported on the cover 13. y This movement of the lever 96 causes the end of the arm |06 to tend to move tothe left, as viewed in the drawing, but this movement of the arm |66 is prevented as the ratchet bar ||6 is held by the pawl ||2, which is yieldingly pressed into engagement with the ratchet bar ||0 by means of the spring ||8.

The spring |35 is proportioned so as to maintain the valve piston |34 in engagement with the seat rib |32 until the pressureof the uid in the chamber |24, and in the chamber |22 at the face of the piston 12, has increased to a value high enough to move the piston 12 against the spring 14 until further movement of the piston 12 is prevented by engagement of the arm ofthe bell crank 86 with the projection 89 on the unsprung portion 90 of the vehicle truck.

On a further increase in the pressure of the fluid in the chamber |24'the force exerted thereby on the face of the valve piston |34 within the seat rib |32 is great enough to overcome the opposing force of the spring |36 so that the valve pistoni 34 is moved away from the seat rib |32, thereby permitting fluid under pressure to ilow to the chamber |46 outwardly of the seat rib |32 and exposing the entire face of the valve piston |34 to lluid under pressure. On this increase in the area of thevalve piston |34 subject to fluid under pressure, there is a substantial increase in the force exerted on the valve piston 34, and it is thereafter rapidly moved 'against the spring |36 until the annular seat rib |56 thereon engages the sealing gasket |52 to cut off communication between the passage |42 and the chamber |44 at the spring side of the valve piston.

On this movement of the piston I 34, the stem carried thereby `is moved so as to move the spherical valve element 54 into engagement with its seat to cut ofi` the further supply of iuid under pressure frornthe chamber |24 to the chamber |56, and thence by way of the passage |58 to the chamber |22 at the face of the piston 12.

On movement of the valve piston |34 away from the seat rib |32, fluid under pressure flows from the chamber |24 to the chamber |40 outwardly of the seat rib |32, and thence by way of the passage |42 to the passage |46 leading to the chamber |20 intermediate the pistons H4l the differential areas of the pistons H4. and H6 l and'exerts force on the piston H6 to'move it downwardly against the opposing force of the spring H8, thereby moving the pawl H2 away from the ratchet bar H0.

If, while the vehicle doors are open, the load on the vehicle is increasedas by an increase in the number of passengers on the vehicle, the vehicle springs will be compressed `and the body ofthe vehicle will move somewhat closer to the unsprung portion 90 of the vehicle truck. As a result of this downward movement of the vehicle body the arm of the bell crank 86 will press against the projection 89 land they bell crank 86-will be turned about the pin 88 in a counterclockwise direction an amount in accordance 'with the degree of compression of the vehicle springs and, therefore, in .accordance with the increase in the load on the vehicle. Thismovement of the bell crank 86 isY transmitted through the link 84 to the bell crank 80 to turnv Iit in aclockwise direction about the pin 82. This movement of the bell crank 80 is transmitted through the link 18 to the lever 16 and causes this lever to pivot in a clockwise direction about the nip 11 on which it is attached to the stem 15.`

On-this movement of the lever 16, force is eX- erted on the link 92 to move it downwardly, and this force is transmitted t'o the arm 94 of the lever 96 to move this lever in a clockwise direction about the pin 98; On this'movement of the lever 96, the arm `|06.thereof is moved` and its movement is transmitted through the link |08 to the ratchet bar H0 to move'it to the left, as

viewed in the drawing. The ratchet bar H0 is free to move at this time as the pawl H2 has been moved out of engagement with the teeth on the ratchet bar.

On movement ofthelever 96 in av clockwise direction about the pin 98, the arm |00-on this lever is turned so that the roller |02 carried thereby presses against the end of the stem |04v and moves this stem and the spring seat to the right, as viewed in the drawing.

'Ihe amount of movement of the springseat 36 is determined by the amount of movement of the bell crank 86, which, as pointed out above, varies in accordance with the increase in the load on the vehicle.

A When the doors are to be closed, the operator releases fluid under` pressure from the pipe 68 by valve means, not shown, and the door engine 5 is thereupon operated to eiect closing of the doors of the vehicle. On the release of fluid under pressure from' the lpipe -68 fluid flows thereto from the chamber |20intermediate the pistons H4 and H6 by way of thepassage |46, the passage |42, the chambers |40 and |24 at the face of the valve piston |34, and the passage and pipe |26.

On a reduction to a predetermined value in the pressure of the fluid in the chamber-1Z0, the

force exerted by this fluid under pressure on the differential areas of the pistons H4- and H6 is insulcient to maintain these pistons against theV opposing force of the spring H8, and these pistons and the pawl H2 are thereupon moved upwardly, as viewed in the drawing, by the spring I I8 so that the pawl I I 2 engages the teethin the ratchet bar H0 to maintainvthe ratchet bar V||0 in the position to which it has beenmoved.

On a: reduction in the pressure of the fluid in the chambers |40" and |24 at the face of' the valve piston |34 to a value somewhat lower than isirequired to maintain the pistons H4 and H6 against the spring H8, the force exerted by this fluidunder pressure on the valve piston |34 is insufficient to maintain it against the opposing force of the spring |36 and the valve piston |34 is thereupon moved into engagement with the seat rib |32, while the seat rib |59 on the piston |34 is moved away fromthe sealing gasket |52.

On movement of the valve piston |34 into engagement with the seat rib |32, any fluid under pressure remaining in the chamber |20 may escape therefrom by wayf of the passage |46 and the passage |42. to the chamber |44 at the spring side of the piston |34, from which it ows to theatmosphere by way of the passage |48.

'On movement of the valve piston. |34 into engagement with the seat rib |32: the spherical valve element |54 is moved away from its seat, thereby permitting fluid under pressure in the chamber |22 which flows by way of the passage |58 to the chamber |56 to flow to the chamber |26', and thence to the pipe 68 through which it is released tothe atmosphere. On the release of fluid under pressure from the chamber |212y at the face of the piston` 12, the piston 12 is moved upwardly by the spring 14.

At this time the lever 96 is prevented from moving as the arm |06 thereof is connected by means of the link |08 to the ratchet bar H0, which is held by the pawl H2. As a result, thereiorethe spring seat 30 is prevented from moving farther tothe left, asviewed in the drawing, and on upward movement of the piston 12 by the spring 14 the lever 16 pivots about the lower end of the link 92 with the result that force is exerted on the link 18 to move it upwardly, as viewed in the drawing, thereby tend--k ing to move the bell crank 80 in a clockwise direction. Force exerted on the bell crank 80 is transmitted through the link 84 tothe bell crank 86 to move it about the pin 88 and press the end thereof against the projection 89 associated with the portion 90 of the vehicle truck. On engagement of the bell crank 86-with the projection 89 further upward movement of the piston 12 by the spring 14 isprevented.

If now the operator wishes to apply they brakes he turns the handle 62` from the release position to a` point in they application Zone.. On this movement of the handle 62 the shaft 60 is turned and the cam 66 is moved so that the face thereof presses against the end of the floating pivot carrier and moves it to the left, as viewed in the drawing. On this movement of the floating pivot carrier 50.3the lever 54- initially pivots about the end of the member 56with the result that the roller 58 presses against the end'of the release valve 42 and moves the release valve against the relatively weak spring 46 into engagement with the seat on the piston 26 to cut o the communication between the pressure chamber |5 and the atmosphere through the ports 44. On further movement of the floating pivot carrier 50 by the cam 66, they lever 54 pivots on the roller 58 and the upper end of the lever opcrates through the member 56 to press the supply valve 22 away from its seat against the opposing force of the spring 24, thereby permitting fluid under pressure supplied from the reservoir 2 by way of lthe passage and pipe 20 to fiow to the pressure chamber I5 and thence to the brake cylinder 4 by way 4of the passage and pipe I6.

As the piston 26l has been movedt'o the right,

(llil aslviewed in the drawing, by the load responsive means acting through the spring 28 from the position which is previously occupied, the release valve 42 will be moved into engagement with its seat on a smaller movement of the floating pivot carrier 50 than was previously required, and accordingly the release valve 42 will be moved to the seated position `on a smaller movement of the handle 62 away from the release position thanV was previously required, while the supply valve 22 is likewise unseated as a result of a smaller movement of the handle 62.

On an increase in the pressure of the fluid in the chamber I there is a corresponding increase inthe force exerted on the piston to move this piston against the spring 28. On movement of the piston 26 against the spring 28 the spring 24 acting through the supply valve 22 and the member 56 causes the floating pivot carrier 50 to be held in engagement with the face of the cam 6E, while the lever 54 pivots on the pin 52 and the roller 58 is pressed against the end of the 4 release valve 42 to maintain it in the seated position against the opposing force of the relatively weak spring 46.

i As the pressure of the fluid in the chamber I5 continues to increase the piston 26 is moved farther against the opposing force of the spring 28, compressing this spring somewhat, while the supply valve 22 is moved towards the seated position `by the spring 24. When the pressure of the fluid in the chamber i 5 has increased to a predetermined value, dependent upon the position to which the handle 62 has been turned, the piston 26 will have been moved far enough against the spring 28 to permit the spring 24 to move the supply valve 22 to the seated position to cut off the further supply of fluid under pressure to the pressure chamber |5 and to the brake cylinder 4.

As the spring seat has been moved to the right by the load responsive mechanism, the piston 26 must compress the spring 28 to a somewhat greater extent than was previously required in the same position of the handle 62 before the `piston 26 is moved to a position to permit the supply valve 22 to be seated, and the pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber I5 and in the brake cylinder 4 must increase to a somewhat higher value than before in order to move piston 2B this distance against the spring 28.

It will be seen, therefore, that on operation of the door engine 5 to open the vehicle doors the load responsive mechanism is rendered operative so that on a subsequent increase in the load on the vehicle the self-lapping brake valve device is automatically conditioned to produce a somewhat higher pressure in the brake cylinder, and a corresponding increase in the braking effect on the vehicle for a given amount of movement of the operating handle S2 of the self-lapping valve device.

The pressure which the self-lapping valve device is operative to produce in the pressure chamber I5 and in the brake cylinder 4 varies with the amount of movement of the handle 52, and on movement of this handle to the extreme point in its range of movement after the load responsive mechanism has been operated to increase the pressure of the fluid supplied by the self-lapping valve device, this-valve device will operate to produce a higher pressure in the brake cylinder 4 than is produced by movement of the operatinghandle 62 to the same point in its range of movement before operation of the load responsive mechanism to change the adjustment of the self-lapping valve device.

On subsequent movement of the handle 82 to the release position the self-lapping valve mechanism operates substantially as described in detail above to release fluid under pressurefrom the pressure chamber I5 and the brake cylinder 4 through the ports 44 and the atomspheric passage 36.

On the subsequent supply of fluid under pressure by way of the pipe 68 to the door engine 5 to effect operation of this door engine to open the doors of the vehicle, the pawl ||2 is again released and the load responsive mechanism is again operative to adjust the position of the spring seat 30 in accordance with the load on the vehicle, and thereby modify the operation of the self-lapping valve device to cause this valve device to supply fluid under pressure in accordance with the load on the vehicle.

If there is a reduction in the load on the vehicle this brake equipment will also operate automatically to modify the adjustment of the self-lapping valve device so that this valve device will thereafter operate to supply fluid at pressures somewhat lower than previously, thereby decreasing the braking effect on the vehicle.

Thus it will be seen if fluid under pressure is Supplied by way of the pipe 68 to the door engine 5 to open the vehicle doors uid will flow from the pipe 88 by way of the pipe and passage |28 and through the choke |30 to the chamber I 24, and therefrom by way of the passage |58 to the chamber |22 and the face of the piston 72. On an increase in the pressure of the fluid in the chamber |22 the piston I2 will be moved downwardly against the spring I4, thereby causing the lever 'i6 to pivot on the lower end of the link 92 with the result that the link 'I8 is moved downwardly and the` bell crank 80 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction about the pin 82. This movement of the bell crank 80 is transmitted through the link 84 tothe bell crank 86 to move it in a clockwise direction about the pin 88 until the end of the arm thereof engages the projection 89 associated with the unsprung portion 90 of the vehicle truck to prevent further downward movement of the piston 12.

On a further increase in the pressure of the fluid in the chamber |24 the valve piston |34 is moved away from the seat rib |32 so as to permit fluid under pressure to flow to the chamber |20 to release the pawl H2, while the valve element |54 is moved to the seated position to cut 01T the flow of fluid to the chamber |22.

On the supply of fluid under pressure to the door engine 5 this engine operates to open the vehicle doors and permit the discharge of passengers from the vehicle. This reduction in the load on the vehicle permits the Vehicle springs to expand, and causes the body portion of the vehicle to be moved away from the unsprung portion 90 of the vehicle truck.

At this time, as the vehicle is standing, the brakes will be applied to prevent unintended movement of the vehicle while passengers are alighting therefrom, and, as a result, fluid under pressurelwill be present in the pressure chamber I5 and in the brake cylinder 4.

The uid under pressure present in the chamber I5 exerts force on the piston 26 to compress the spring 2B, and this force is transmitted through the spring 28 to the Spring Seat 30 and thence through the stem |04 to the roller |02.

When the pawl ||2 is released `the force exerted 75 on the roller |02 carried by the arm |00 of the lever 96 moves the lever 06 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 98, thereby moving the lower endof the arm |06 of the lever 96 to the right, as viewed in the drawing, and moving the ratchet bar ||0 to the right.

On this movement of the lever 96, the arm 94 thereof moves the link 92 upwardly thereby causing the lever 16 to pivot on the pin 11 and move the link 18 downwardly. This movement of the link 18 moves the bell crank 80 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 82, and this movement of the bell crank is transmitted through the link 84 to move the bell crank 86 in a clockwise direction Vabout the 1n 8B and thereby move the arm of this bell crank into engagement with the projection 89 on the portion 90 of the vehicle truck.

When the arm of the bell crank 66 engages the projection 80 further movement of the bell crank 86 is prevented, and this bell crank operates through the connecting links and levers to prevent further movement of the lever 96, the ratchet bar ||0, the spring seat 30, the spring128 and teh piston 26 by the fluid in the chamber I5.

The amount of movement permitted the bell crank 86 is determined by the change in the vrelative positions of the vehicle body and truck,

which in turn is determined by thel change in the load on the vehicle. The amount of movement permitted the spring seat@ 30, and the change in the adjustment of the self lapping valve device, are regulated, therefore, by the change'in the load on the vehicle. t

On this movement of the spring seat 30 and piston 26, the spring 46 associated with the release valve 42 expands and maintains the release valve 42 in engagement with the roller 58, while the seat on the piston 26 is movedaway from the release valve 42 to permit fluid under pressure to escape from the pressure chamber |5 and the brake cylinder 4 through the ports 44 until the pressure of the fluid in the chamber l5 has reduced by an amount sufficient to permit the spring 28`to expand far enough to move the piston 26 to a position in which the seat thereon again engages the end of the release valve 42 toI cut off the further release of the uid under pressure from the pressure chamber I5 and the brake cylinder 4.

If the fluid under pressure is now released from the pipe 68 to operate the door engine 5 to effect closing of the vehicle doors, fluid is released also from the chamber at the face of the valve piston |34 and this valve piston is moved to the position to release fluid from the chamber |20 intermediate the pistons ||4 and ||6 to permit the spring ||8 to move the pawl ||2 into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet bar ||0, and to unseat the valve element |54 to release fluid under pressure from the chamber |22 at the face of the piston 12.

On a subsequentapplication of the brakes following the release of the brakes, as the spring seat 30 has been moved to the left as a result of the changes in the adjustment of the load responsive mechanism, the piston 26 must compress the spring 28 only to a somewhat smaller degree than was previously required in the same position of the handle 62 before the piston 26 is moved to a position to permit the supply valve 22 to be seated. The pressure of the iluid in the pressure chamber l5 and in the brake cylinder 4 must, therefore, increase only to a somewhat lesser value than was previously required in the same position of the handle 62 before the supply of fluid under pressure to the brake cylinder 4 is cut off, and the degree of braking on the vehicle is accordingly reduced.

While one embodiment of the improved variable load brake provided by my invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these details of construction, and that numerous f changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claim.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a vehicle fluid pressure brake equipment, in combination, application means operative on an increase in fluid pressure to effect an application of the brakes, a self-lapping brake valve device comprising a movable abutment, valve means movable by said abutment and also movable relative to said abutment for controlling the supply and release of fluid under pressure toand from the application means, a spring seat, a spring extending between said spring seat and said abut- 1 ment, said abutment being subject to the opposing pressures of the'fluid supplied to said application means and of said spring, manual means independent of said abutment formovingsaid valve means relative to said abutment, and means responsive to the load on the vehicle for adjusting the spring seat relative to: said abutment and thereby varying the force exerted by said spring on said abutment.

JOHN -W. RUSH. 55 

